It was a regular Monday morning, except for Los Angeles, where a unique event brought together many people from all over the city. People were excited about it online, but being there in person felt different.
The buzzing energy was amazing! What was about to take place would change the local dining scene. Nobody knew what to expect, but they were all very certain that they didn’t want to miss this event.
The Who Behind This Unique Idea
The driving force behind this event is entrepreneur Elon Musk, owner of Tesla, which is internationally known for changing the electric car industry. He worked hand-in-hand with restaurant expert Bill Chait and well-known chef Eric Greenspan to make the diner happen.
Greenspan even posted on Instagram, “Tesla Diner now open. 24/7 from now until forever,” which captured their excitement and future vision for longevity. But the real stars of the day were the fans who were eagerly waiting to be a part of this new and unusual restaurant opening in Hollywood.
What is all the Buzz About?
All of this hype is about the new Tesla Diner that has opened. It serves as a restaurant and a drive-in that mixes an old-school diner style with state-of-the-art Tesla Technology. While the diner provides a place to eat classic comfort food and drinks, it also serves as a hub where people can charge their electric cars.
With 80 ultra-fast V4 Supercharger stalls, two giant outdoor movie screens, and the first-ever deployment of Tesla’s humanoid robot, Optimus, serving snacks, the diner aims to redefine the roadside stop, delivering a blend of hospitality, entertainment, and high-tech.
When Did the Doors Officially Open?
After being talked about for years, the Tesla Diner finally opened to everyone on July 21, 2025. The doors opened at 4:20 p.m., as a playful joke that fans of Elon Musk would notice.
It was a very hot Monday, and some people had been waiting outside since early morning, wanting to be the first inside. As soon as the doors opened, huge crowds rushed in, making it a big event across the city.
Let’s Talk About Location
The Tesla Diner is located at 7001 Santa Monica Boulevard in Hollywood, where there used to be a Shakey’s Pizza. It’s located in a great spot, close to famous Hollywood landmarks and along the historic Route 66, popular for road trips and American nostalgia.
The gleaming, two-story building boasts stylish curves, metallic flourishes, expansive terraces, and panoramic views of the surrounding city, drawing both locals and visitors.
The Motivation Behind This Company
This diner is not only about being a place to eat food. Elon Musk was motivated to create this diner because he wanted it to be a fun place where Tesla drivers and other electric car owners could hang out while their cars charged.
Tesla Diner offers movies, good food, and the tech convenience of ordering right from your car, making it a special high-tech place you can’t find anywhere else. If it proves to be a successful business, you can expect them to open even more locations.
Do You Need a Tesla to go there?
The great thing about Tesla Diner is that you do not need to own a Tesla or other electric car to enjoy its offerings, which makes it a great spot for both local neighbors and travelers.
As Elon Musk described on social media, “Aiming to be a fun experience for all, whether Tesla owners or not. Will keep improving,” reaffirming that inclusivity and continuous improvement are at the heart of the concept.
All About the Chef and Culinary Creations
Eric Greenspan is the head chef and co-owner of the Tesla Diner in Hollywood. He is well-known in the Los Angeles food scene and was picked to lead the kitchen and create the special menu for the diner. This menu brings back classic American diner food with a modern update.
You can order foods like smash burgers, crinkle fries, fried chicken sandwiches, and hand-made milkshakes, all served in special Cybertruck-shaped boxes. This is an all-inclusive diner, offering vegan burgers and oat milkshakes.
They have prioritized sourcing, and many fresh ingredients come from local, organic farms.
What the Opening Day Looked Like
On opening day, more than a thousand people showed up, some even dressed in clothes inspired by Elon Musk. There were also a lot of Teslas and Cybertrucks. Some servers skated around on roller skates, and a robot named Optimus handed out popcorn.
The atmosphere, as reported by the media, “balanced nostalgia and novelty, turning the launch into a viral social event.” Renuka Veerasingam, an eager opening-day patron, told reporters, “I want to go to Mars, and Elon Musk is going to take us. Space is the ultimate frontier. It’s our nature to seek out the final frontier—to continue pushing until we reach the edge.”
Step Into the Future at the Tesla Diner
The décor inside reflects the happy, colorful feel of the 1950s and a clean, modern look. People can sit in round booths or at a long counter, and there’s an upstairs balcony where you can watch movies on giant screens or look out over Hollywood.
A first-in-line customer shared their delight: “The moment you walk in, it feels like you stepped into Space Mountain at Disneyland or some futuristic Tesla time machine. This is so cool. It was futuristic, sleek.” The place is so unique that people joked on Instagram saying: “Only Tesla has you taking a photo of the bathroom before you use it.”
Park and Supercharge Your E.V
The Tesla Diner has 80 V4 fast car charging spots, some shaded by solar panel canopies. This makes it the biggest charging station for electric cars in Los Angeles and works for Tesla and other electric vehicles.
The solar panels help the diner use clean energy, reducing pollution by millions of kilograms yearly. On the wall inside the restaurant, there’s a Tesla motto that says, “Accelerating the world’s transition to sustainable energy.”
Staff and Service Robots
Not only does the diner have servers on roller skates, but robots have also been introduced to help with hospitality. Optimus, the humanoid robot currently assigned to serve popcorn, is set for an expanded role as a food runner in 2026, which means he will likely start bringing food to people’s cars, too.
Using robots like this shows that Tesla wants to make restaurants more high-tech and use more automation. While there are robot workers, the human servers also play an essential role in bringing a personal touch; the front-of-house staff were “incredibly upbeat” and described as “friendly” and helpful by customers and media reviewers.
Fans and Celebrities are Drawn to the Diner
While the opening attracted electric car fans, it also brought in local influencers, celebrities, and important people, showing that the diner is now a cool place to be seen and hang out.
Many people think this will become a hotspot for Hollywood’s creative community and a must-visit for tech tourists in Los Angeles.
Merchandise for Everlasting Nostalgia
Elon is truly taking the Tesla brand to every level he can. Inside the diner, there’s a shop where people can buy Tesla-themed stuff like shirts, hats, and even cool items like small floating Cybertruck models.
You can also get reusable drink bottles, forks, or spoons shaped like Cybertrucks. All this Tesla merchandise deepens the connection between the dining experience and everything they offer.
Is There a Vision for Expansion?
Elon Musk was so happy with the opening night at L.A. that he announced his intentions to build more just like it.
He explained, “If our retro-futuristic diner turns out well, which I think will, @Tesla will establish these in major cities worldwide and at Supercharger sites on long-distance routes. It will be an island of good food, good vibes, and entertainment, all while Supercharging!”
In response to calls for a Texas branch, Musk replied, “Ok,” hinting that expansion might be in the pipeline.
So, keep a lookout, your location might be following!